Morphology

Carfagno, Kerry

Morphology

The orbicular, foliose thallus of Coccocarpia palmicola is dark blue-gray to brownish-gray, to some extent glossy and with concentric ridges. It measures 2-6 cm wide and grows loosely or closely attached to the substrate. The lobes are somewhat overlapped, each measuring 2-6 mm across with apices rounded and margins bent downward. Pycnidia are common across the thallus surface. Isidia are sparse to plentiful, colored dark grey or the same color as the thallus, and are cylindrical to globose or nodular, some becoming coralloid. Dense pale tan to blue-black tomentum, occasionally with white or grey tips, is frequently visible at the edges of lobes. Apothecia are uncommon, but are brownish flesh-colored to black and variably orbicular when they occur. Ascospores are usually biguttulate, measuring 7-10(15) x 3-4 μm. (Lange et al, 1993; Brodo et al, 2001; Park, 1990; Swinscow, 1988)